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Patrick Renames Ceremonial Guard Unit to Honor 54th Mass

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BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick participated in a State House ceremony on Friday marking the redesignation of the Massachusetts National Guard Ceremonial Unit as the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment.

The unit was reorganized in honor of the state's famed 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first black regiment raised in the North during the Civil War and authorized by Gov. John Andrew in 1863. The regiment's best-known action was the charge on Battery Wagner in South Carolina, which killed its young leader Col. Robert Gould Shaw and saw the Medal of Honor awarded to Sgt. William Carney.


Photos courtesy governer's office

Gov. Deval Patrick awards campaign streamers Friday to Guard units for their duties in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo at a ceremony in Nurses Hall at the State House
The regiment was featured in the film "Glory" and memorialized in a bronze relief by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens a century ago.

The change was prompted by National Guard leader Maj. Gen. Joseph Carter, the first black to lead the Massachusetts National Guard, and designated by Patrick, the state's first black governor.

Patrick also awarded campaign streamers to 31 Massachusetts Army and Air National Guard units returning from service in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo.
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Companion Corner: Dolly at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is an affectionate kitty at Berkshire Humane Society looking for a new home.

Dolly is a 1-year-old domestic shorthair with white and tabby markings who has been at the shelter for a short amount of time.

Feline/small animal adoption counselor Alyssa Petell introduced us to her.

"Her name was actually inspired off of Dolly Parton because she came in on the day that Dolly Parton passed away," she said. 

The shelter doesn't have a lot of information on Dolly as she was a stray, but knows she is very sweet.

"She was originally found as a stray. So we don't have much background information as to exactly what happened and why she ended up becoming a stray," Petell said. "Unfortunately, a lot of times kitties will become abandoned and become strays or get left behind."

Dolly needs a home with no other cats and will prefer somewhere quiet because she can get a little shy and nervous at times.

"She doesn't like other cats. I think a quiet home, older people would be best for her, just because of her shy personality in the beginning," Petell said. "But she eventually will warm up, and she is a lovely lady."

Dolly loves to be pet and might even play with some feather toys. Like any other cat, she will let you know when she has had enough pets but will be back for more shortly after.

"She loves butt scratches. She's super affectionate. She actually does have a little bit of a playful side when she gets used to you, and she just wants to snuggle with you and be loved on all day long," said Petell.

Dolly is healthy and will join your family up to date with all of her vaccines.

"She doesn't have any health issues. She is spayed, and when you adopt a kitty from our shelter, the adoption fee does include everything medically wise. So their spay or neuter, their vaccines, their health certificate from the vet, everything is included. So she will have all of that done before she goes," she said.

One of her ears is clipped to show she has been spayed as she was a part of the Community Cat Program, but since she was so friendly, the Humane Society decided to adopt her out.

"She was originally caught as a stray from our community cat program. They normally work with trap, neuter, return for feral, semi-feral cats, or friendly strays, and when she was caught, they realized that she was very friendly, and she was then brought into our shelter so we could adopt her out," Petell said.

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